We all have a story. It evolves daily and grows along with our family. It becomes part of our personal history, and it is important to not only relive those moments for ourselves, but also to share those memories with our children and grandchildren. Communicating these experiences—whether positive or otherwise—connects the past to the future and provides the next generation with insights into...

We understand from President Donald J. Trump’s economic agenda that we can expect to see significant changes in several areas of our existing economy. One of his main campaign pledges was to reform tax laws; however, the process to implement these reforms likely won’t take place until the spring. In the Q1 2017 edition of The Advisor, Atlantic Trust’s quarterly magazine, we asked Daniel...

Now that we’re past the election and President Donald J. Trump’s campaign platform is beginning to come to life under a GOP-controlled Congress, the phrase “eliminate the estate tax” will start to get a lot more attention. But a repeal of the estate tax is just one part of the overall Trump tax platform, with significant changes also being proposed to the rates of individual and corporate...

The Federal Open Market Committee voted to keep monetary policy steady following a December 2016 increase in short-term rates.  The market implied probability of another hike at today’s meeting was less than 15%.  There were a few marginal changes to the wording of its post meeting press release.  Following is a summary of the FOMC’s statement. Growth In a new development,...

Knowing how to categorize your debt—whether it’s existing debt that you’re already paying off or new debt that you’re thinking about taking on—can help guide you if you’re unsure of which debt to target and pay down first or whether to incur a debt at all. Regardless of your debt situation, ask yourself these seven questions to determine what kind of debt you already have or are considering:

What can we expect to see in 2017 following President-elect Donald J. Trump’s victory? One word: change. Soon after the election, Trump put forth his economic agenda, confirming his plans  for growth in the areas of energy, healthcare, defense and financials. In the Q1 edition of The Advisor, Atlantic Trust’s quarterly magazine, Atlantic Trust professionals Gary Pzegeo, CFA, head of...

Atlantic Trust was proud to be part of this year’s Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning, which took place the week of January 9 at the Orlando World Center Marriott Resort and Convention Center. The week-long program, one of the largest and most respected in estate planning, included over 140 exhibitors, as well as educational and professional development opportunities for all in attendance....

Families with college-bound children (and grandchildren) know that funding a four-year education isn’t a matter to be taken lightly. In fact, a recent Forbes article reported that the projected cost of attending an elite, four-year college could top $300,000 starting with the Class of 2021. Although there are a variety of planning tools and strategies available, higher education is still...

  Sticking to a budget around the holidays is already a challenge, and trying to simultaneously set a positive financial example for your children raises the stakes even higher. However, teaching your children the value of money early on can establish a foundation of good financial habits that will last a lifetime. The holidays are an opportune time to teach your kids by “showing” rather...

  The FOMC voted unanimously to increase the target range for Federal Funds to 0.5% - 0.75%, a move telegraphed by Fed officials and anticipated by the market. The Fed’s press release was largely unchanged from the November 2 meeting, excluding language referring to the new rate target and recent behavior in market implied inflation compensation.     Market analysts were...

  The OPEC meeting this week ended in Vienna with a formal agreement similar to their announced plans two months prior. The headline is clearly positive in that this action accelerates the rebalancing process that was already underway. We would still argue however that this announcement should be viewed as a production freeze and not a production cut as we expect actual production to be...

Both the Election and Market Reaction Confound the Consensus At its November meeting, the Atlantic Trust Asset Allocation Committee (AAC) focused on the economic and investment implications of the election results. We believe the unique nature of the incoming administration, along with the Republican Congress and “one-party rule” in Washington, will bring significant change to the policy...

  Every year we advise our clients to engage in routine, year-end tax planning. This planning is needed now, especially as we take President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed tax policies into consideration. With the new year quickly approaching, our Wealth Strategies Group has created the following checklist that may serve as a starting point for your year-end tax planning:     ...

  The result of this month’s presidential election has caused concern about how healthcare will change. And while the specifics are still being worked out, changes in our healthcare system are sure to come. Understandably, many people are wondering how the objectives of the new administration will affect health coverage for themselves and their loved ones.     With that in...

The 2016 U.S. Presidential Election outcome yielded not one, but two surprises for the nation and the world last week. The first, of course, was an unexpected Republican sweep in both the White House and in Congress: Donald Trump has been elected 45th President of the United States while the GOP retained control of the House of Representatives and gained a majority in the Senate. The other...